As you start searching for dental hygiene jobs, it’s important to begin proactively marketing yourself. No matter how great you are, you’ll have a difficult time finding the job you want if you don’t learn how to market yourself. The most successful job seekers in the dental industry are those who understand how important it is to begin marketing themselves to potential employers.

Before you begin marketing yourself, you need to realize what makes you unique, coming up with your unique selling proposition. What makes you stand out from other dental hygienists applying for jobs? What have you accomplished and what can you bring to the dental office?

Once you know your competitive advantages, then you need to be able to use those advantages to market yourself to potential employers. You’ll also need to find ways to communicate your value to prospective employers. Here’s a closer look at a few tips that you can use your unique selling proposition to market yourself, increasing your chance of finding dental hygiene jobs.

Tip #1 – Set Up an Online Presence

One of the best ways to promote yourself is to set up your own online presence. When you create a website, you show employers that you take your job search and your career as a dental hygienist very seriously. Employers may be curious about why you would go to all the work to create your own website, and this curiously could get you a job interview.

If you don’t have the time and money to create your own website, you can still create an online presence by setting up your own LinkedIn account. It’s free to set up an account, and you get the ability to have an online, professional presence that can help you connect with potential employers. Using LinkedIn also allows you to network with other dental hygienists as well. Having your own LinkedIn account can also be helpful because if an employer searches your name on a search engine, LinkedIn accounts often show up high on the list.

Tip #2 – Use Postcards

Postcards also offer you an excellent way to market yourself to dental employers. In fact, you can create your own postcard resume and send it out to offices that may be hiring. In many cases, dental offices keep postcards longer than they do actual resumes. Postcards are also a novel, interesting way that can get you labeled as a “think outside the box” and “creative” person. This will ensure that you are remembered by the dental office.

To create your own postcard resume, you’ll need to keep a few tips in mind. First, you need to keep your working to a minimum, since postcards have very limited space. It’s a good idea to add your picture so employers remember your face. Be sure to add your contact information to the postcard. You can also add your LinkedIn profile link or a link to your personal website so the employer can learn more about you. You’ll want to make sure you add some color to the postcards so they really stand out.

Tip #3 – Send Emails

Don’t underestimate the power of email as you work to market yourself and land a dental hygienist job. While you don’t want to spam prospective employers, sending a simple email that lets you inform dental offices that you can work as a sub can be effective. Sending out emails will cost you less than sending postcards, although it may be a bit more difficult to get the email addresses of local dental offices. If you do send out emails, include a link to your LinkedIn page or your website in the signature to allow potential employers to learn more about you.

Tip #4 – Visit in Person

One of the best ways to market yourself to potential employers is to take the time to visit a dental office in person. Many dental hygienists get their resume out there by visiting local offices. It’s an effective way to meet potential employers, and it makes an impression that you’re willing to get out there and deliver your resume by hand. Of course, you don’t have to leave a resume. You can leave a business card or a postcard. The key is to leave something behind that makes you memorable, keeping your name in front of the office staff. In-person visits are often effective because the dental office employees have the chance to see that you’re a professional, likeable person, and this isn’t something you can get from a emailed resume or a postcard. In-person visits help you to build trust, getting you closer to landing the job you want.